"Fish habitat" describes every place where fish can survive, whether it be a marshy area in a lake, a slow meandering creek or a set of pools and riffles in a river. Whatever the type, different species have evolved to take advantage of these habitats.


However, fish habitat is vulnerable to the activities that take place around it. Below are a few examples of such activities that can affect fish habitat.

In some parts of Manitoba, fish have been denied access to upstream reaches of the rivers because of dams. To overcome this problem, fish ladders have been built throughout the province to allow fish passage back up into upstream reaches. By constructing these ladders, historic migration patterns can once again be achieved.


Rock Fishway


Over the years, water quality has been degraded because too much nutrient and sediment from agricultural, municipal and natural sources has been drained into the rivers.


Bank Erosion


Algal Bloom


Steps are being taken in some areas to alleviate these problems. On the Little Saskatchewan River, local farmers and fish and game groups have developed and introduced streambank protection and riparian zone management. By fencing off portions of the river (i.e. not allowing livestock access), pumping water uphill to livestock corrals and revegetating damaged streambanks, these problems can be overcome.


Before


After


Other human activities, such as discharging effluent and littering, also affect fish habitat. Every day, dangerous substances are introduced into our waterways on purpose and by mistake.


Effluent Discharge


Programs have been developed to offset these activities, such as effluent treatment plants and educational materials that illustrate why it is important to protect our water supplies.


River Cleanup


Local game and fish groups have taken steps by running yearly river and lake cleanup programs throughout the province.